How to do CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on an adult
1. Make sure you are not putting yourself in danger/harm by administering CPR to someone unconscious. Is there fire? Is the person lying on a roadway? do whatever is necessary to move yourself and the other person to safety.
2. You can open a window, turn off the stove or put out the fire if possible.
3. However, if there is nothing you can do to counteract the danger, move the victim. The best way to move the victim is by placing a blanket or coat underneath their back and dragging it
Assess the victim’s consciousness
1. Gently tap his/her shoulder and ask: Are you ok’ in a loud clear voice. If he/she responds, PR is not required
2. If the victim does not respond, continue with the following steps
Send for help
1. Send someone to call for emergency services. Give the dispatcher your location and notify him or her that you are going to perform CPR. If you are alone, get off the phone and start compressions.
2. If you have someone else with you, have him or her stay on the line while you do CPR on the victim
Check for signs of life
1. Put your ear close to the victim’s nose and mouth and listen for breathing. If the victim is coughing or breathing normally, DON’T perform CPR. Doing so could cause the heart to stop beating
2. Place the victim on his/her back and make sure he/she is lying flat as possible. This will prevent injury while doing the chest compressions
3. Place the heel of one hand on the victim’s breastbone
4. Place your second hand on top of the first hand palms down
5. Position your body directly over your hands so that your arms are straight and somewhat rigid
Perform 30 chest compressions
1. Press down with both hands directly over the breastbone to perform a compression which helps the heart beat
2. You should depress the breastbone approximately 4-5cm (1.5-2 inches)
Minimize pauses in chest compressions
1. Attempt to limit interruptions to less than 10 seconds
2. Make sure the airway is open. Place two fingers under the point of casualty's chin, lift the chin. At the same time, place your other hand on the casualty's and gently tilt the head well back
3. If you suspect a neck injury, pull the jaw forward rather than chin lifting. If jaw thrust fails to open the airway, do a careful head tilt and chin lift
4. If there are no signs of life, place a breathing barrier (if available) over the victim’s mouth
Give two rescue breaths
1. Keeping the airway open, take the fingers that were on the forehead and pinch the victims nose closed. Make a seal with your mouth over the victim’s mouth and breath out for about one second. Breath slowly to ensure air goes in the lungs and not the stomach
2. If the breath goes in, you should see the chest slightly rise and also feel it go in. Give a second rescue breath
3. If the breath does not go in, reposition the head and try again. If it does not go in again, the victim may be chocking
4. Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breath. Do CPR for 2 minutes (5 cycles) before checking for signs of life.
5. Continue CPR until someone takes over, emergency personnel arrive, you are too exhausted to continue, an AED (automated external defibrillator) is available for immediate use or signs of life return.
6. AED is used to jumpstart the victims heart
Check the scene for immediate danger
1. Make sure you are not putting yourself in danger/harm by administering CPR to someone unconscious. Is there fire? Is the person lying on a roadway? do whatever is necessary to move yourself and the other person to safety.
2. You can open a window, turn off the stove or put out the fire if possible.
3. However, if there is nothing you can do to counteract the danger, move the victim. The best way to move the victim is by placing a blanket or coat underneath their back and dragging it
Assess the victim’s consciousness
1. Gently tap his/her shoulder and ask: Are you ok’ in a loud clear voice. If he/she responds, PR is not required
2. If the victim does not respond, continue with the following steps
Send for help
1. Send someone to call for emergency services. Give the dispatcher your location and notify him or her that you are going to perform CPR. If you are alone, get off the phone and start compressions.
2. If you have someone else with you, have him or her stay on the line while you do CPR on the victim
Check for signs of life
1. Put your ear close to the victim’s nose and mouth and listen for breathing. If the victim is coughing or breathing normally, DON’T perform CPR. Doing so could cause the heart to stop beating
2. Place the victim on his/her back and make sure he/she is lying flat as possible. This will prevent injury while doing the chest compressions
3. Place the heel of one hand on the victim’s breastbone
4. Place your second hand on top of the first hand palms down
5. Position your body directly over your hands so that your arms are straight and somewhat rigid
Perform 30 chest compressions
1. Press down with both hands directly over the breastbone to perform a compression which helps the heart beat
2. You should depress the breastbone approximately 4-5cm (1.5-2 inches)
Minimize pauses in chest compressions
1. Attempt to limit interruptions to less than 10 seconds
2. Make sure the airway is open. Place two fingers under the point of casualty's chin, lift the chin. At the same time, place your other hand on the casualty's and gently tilt the head well back
3. If you suspect a neck injury, pull the jaw forward rather than chin lifting. If jaw thrust fails to open the airway, do a careful head tilt and chin lift
4. If there are no signs of life, place a breathing barrier (if available) over the victim’s mouth
Give two rescue breaths
1. Keeping the airway open, take the fingers that were on the forehead and pinch the victims nose closed. Make a seal with your mouth over the victim’s mouth and breath out for about one second. Breath slowly to ensure air goes in the lungs and not the stomach
2. If the breath goes in, you should see the chest slightly rise and also feel it go in. Give a second rescue breath
3. If the breath does not go in, reposition the head and try again. If it does not go in again, the victim may be chocking
4. Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breath. Do CPR for 2 minutes (5 cycles) before checking for signs of life.
5. Continue CPR until someone takes over, emergency personnel arrive, you are too exhausted to continue, an AED (automated external defibrillator) is available for immediate use or signs of life return.
6. AED is used to jumpstart the victims heart
